Watch a Pro Video Editor Edit in Real Time (Sailing Scene)

Ever wish you could sit behind a pro editor and just watch them work? That’s exactly what this video is—a real-time editing session where I narrate my process as I build a simple scene using stunning sailing footage from Artlist (affiliate link).

In this edit, I’m assembling a short sequence for an upcoming exercise on music selection. But before we even touch music, it’s all about structure, emotion, and story. You’ll see how I pull selects, think about pacing, and use hotkeys to fly through the timeline. Everything I do is with intention—from the way I watch footage, to how I order shots, to how I choose my in/out points based on the action within a shot.

A few key takeaways:

• Stringouts are gold. I start by laying out all footage in a long sequence from which to freely pull.

• Selects on V2 = Visual memory. Pulling selects up a track helps me visually organize without relying on markers.

• Keyboard mapping matters. I explain how custom hotkeys speed up your workflow—and how to start building your own.

• Editing starts with feeling. I’m always asking, "What do I want the audience to feel right now?"

• Build first, polish later. I do a rough assembly before diving into sound design or detailed trims.

Along the way, I add placeholder SFX (e.g., waves, wind, birds) to begin shaping the emotional arc of the story. By the end, we have a solid 45-second sequence that’s ready for music.

This is exactly how I work on broadcast commercials, too, focusing on a simple story, clean rhythm, and clear emotion.

Happy editing!

Austen is an ADDY award-winning film & commercial editor with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with global brands like Meta, KPMG, SAP, and Christianity Today. His PSA work has championed causes like school safety (with Matthew McConaughey), driving safety, and anti-tobacco. A thought leader in the editing field, his online lessons quickly amassed over 100K views after launch.